FREE ESSAY ON CASK OF AMONTILLADO

CASK OF AMONTILLADO

English 102, Section 80
01 March 2000
Essay #1
In The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe, the dark side of human nature is
exemplified through the character of Montresor and his victim, Fortunato. Montresor is a
manipulative and vengeful person. These characteristics lead to the death of Fortunato, a
man who has wronged him. Through the acts, words, and the thoughts of the character, one
is able to see him carry out his plan for revenge.
The story takes place in Italy at a carnival where Montresor and Fortunato happen upon
each other by chance, or so it is made to seem. The setting is lively and jubilant at the
carnival. It then moves to the catacombs of Montresor's home. It is a place of doom where
skeletons lie against damp walls covered in nitre.
Montresor dons a "mask of black silk" and a heavy knee length cloak (76-77). Montresor's
clothes seem to indicate his wanting to conceal himself so he can carry out his devious
plan. On the other side of the spectrum, Fortunato wears a "tight fitting parti-striped
dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells" (76). His clothing seems
to indicate his trusting but foolish nature. The clothing of both characters seems to set
the mood for what types of characters they were.
However, Montresor's true character is indicated through his words. From the start of the
story his vengeful nature sets the tone for the acts that will follow. One of the first
things that Montresor narrates to the reader about Fortunato is that he "…must not
only punish but punish with impunity" (75). Montresor is also manipulative, as he tells
Fortunato that he will have someone else taste the Amontillado, knowing that by doing
this Fortunato will feel compelled to taste the wine himself. "As you are engaged, I am
on my way to Luchresi. If anyone has a critical turn I is he. He will tell me…"
(76). In addition to being manipulative and vengeful he also displays condescending
traits. Montresor addresses Fortunato in the catacombs saying, "your health is precious.
You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy as once I was. You are a man to
be missed" (77). 
Montresor's actions also lend to his vengeful and manipulative nature. He lures Fortunato
into the catacombs of his home to carry out his plans. First he caters to Fortunato's ego
by saying that someone else was as good a judge of wine as he (76). Then Montresor tricks
Fortunato into believing that there lies an expensive bottle of wine in the depths of his
catacombs. When they finally reach their destination, Montresor shackles him to the wall,
constructs a tomb around him using bricks, and leaves him there to die.
It is indicated in the past that Fortunato has hurt Montresor many times, "The thousand
injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I
vowed revenge" (75)." However, insults or unkind acts were actually mentioned in the
story. It was exactly the opposite; Fortunato was friendly and helpful towards Montresor.

From the very beginning of the story, one can obviously see that Montresor thinks that he
has been wronged by Fortunato. His plan for vengeance is easily seen through his actions
and his thoughts. "He had a weak point-this Fortunato-although in other regards he was a
man to be respected and even feared" (76). This line shows that Montresor's plan was well
thought out.
There is no indication of what Fortunato thinks about Montresor. It can only be assumed
that he trusts him because he follows him into the catacombs, and up until the last
moments before the last brick is put into place, he still holds onto the idea that
Montresor is playing a joke on him. "Ha! Ha! Ha! - he! He! He! - a very good joke,
indeed-an excellent jest" (80).
Montresor is successful in his plan for vengeance. He succeeds in having Fortunato follow
him into the catacombs and in no time at all he had him up against the wall. Throwing the
chain around him was easily accomplished in seconds (79). Then tier by tier, Montresor
constructed Fortunato's tomb of bricks around him. When Montresor called out to him, he
heard nothing and thus his plan was complete. "In pace requiescat!" (80). The final lines
definitely indicate again the success of Montresor's plan.
Throughout the entire story one could see how Montresor completely manipulated Fortunato
and lead him to his demise. His vengeful nature made him unable to rethink the evil deed
he had just committed. His only concern was to avenge the insults that he perceived. He
succeeded in taking someone's life without ever revealing his dark side to anyone.